Kick off rule change

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

I wonder how soon FED is going to adopt the NCAA's new "KCI is still possible on a kick straight into the ground" rule? My guess is next year.

I hadn't heard of that one. Did NCAA redefine "catch" as applied to kicks, or just make an additional provision for kicks that have bounced only once, and only in the vicinity of their origins?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

I hadn't heard of that one. Did NCAA redefine "catch" as applied to kicks, or just make an additional provision for kicks that have bounced only once, and only in the vicinity of their origins?

The latter.

[jTheUmp]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

I hadn't heard of that one. Did NCAA redefine "catch" as applied to kicks, or just make an additional provision for kicks that have bounced only once, and only in the vicinity of their origins?

I don't have the exact wording in front of me, but it is something to the effect of "a kick that goes directly off the tee, into the ground, and into the air in the manner of a ball kicked directly into the air" could still have a KCI infraction. After the ball hits the ground a second time, there can be no KCI.

Basically, they're going to make plays like this one illegal. In fact, in NCAA this one would have two fouls on the play... one for KCI, and one for blocking before the ball goes 10 yards. In FED, this is currently not KCI.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

I don't have the exact wording in front of me, but it is something to the effect of "a kick that goes directly off the tee, into the ground, and into the air in the manner of a ball kicked directly into the air" could still have a KCI infraction. After the ball hits the ground a second time, there can be no KCI.

Basically, they're going to make plays like this one illegal. In fact, in NCAA this one would have two fouls on the play... one for KCI, and one for blocking before the ball goes 10 yards. In FED, this is currently not KCI.

The situation is so close materially to that of a catch, probably the only reason there wasn't such a rule for a long time was because it took a very long time before the skill of doing that with a place kick was developed. There had to be enough kickers who succeeded, first on artificial surfaces and later on ground, to convince others that it was worthwhile enough to practice. I don't think it could've been done with the toe easily enough for it to spread either, or you might've seen such a rule 80 years ago.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

I don't have the exact wording in front of me, but it is something to the effect of "a kick that goes directly off the tee, into the ground, and into the air in the manner of a ball kicked directly into the air" could still have a KCI infraction. After the ball hits the ground a second time, there can be no KCI.

Basically, they're going to make plays like this one illegal. In fact, in NCAA this one would have two fouls on the play... one for KCI, and one for blocking before the ball goes 10 yards. In FED, this is currently not KCI.

This year -- any ball kicked directly into the ground, the smart NCAA coaches will have everyone signaling a fair catch.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

I don't have the exact wording in front of me, but it is something to the effect of "a kick that goes directly off the tee, into the ground, and into the air in the manner of a ball kicked directly into the air" could still have a KCI infraction. After the ball hits the ground a second time, there can be no KCI.

Basically, they're going to make plays like this one illegal. In fact, in NCAA this one would have two fouls on the play... one for KCI, and one for blocking before the ball goes 10 yards. In FED, this is currently not KCI.

I strongly disagree that you'd have KCI on this play - there are no receiving players anywhere near the ball where it lands. You're not going to call KCI on a normal kick if a kicking team member blocks a receiving team member that is 5-7 yards from where the ball is coming down - you would not have that here either. You would obviously have blocking before the ball goes 10 yards though.

[jTheUmp]

You don't think #3 was putting himself in a position to catch the kick when he got blocked by the two K players? Yeah, he ended up several yards away... because the K players hit him.